IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,860,266
Granted Patent B2
US 7,860,266 · App. 11/174,573 · Granted Dec 28, 2010

Image processing system and image processing method

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,860,266
App. No.
11/174,573
Granted
Dec 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention provides an image processing system and image processing method which allow a user to easily confirm conversion result information when image information is converted into vector data. Image information input from an input device ( 113 ) is vectorized by a data processing device ( 115 ). Vector data which has successfully been vectorized is converted into image data. The input image information and the converted image data are combined to generate and output combined image data.

Claims (30)

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit adapted to input image information including a plurality of image blocks;

a memory adapted to store the image information including the plurality of image blocks inputted by the input unit;

a type recognizing unit adapted to recognize a first type of image blocks to be vectorized or a second type of image blocks not to be vectorized, the first type of image blocks and the second type of image blocks being included in the plurality of image blocks stored in the memory;

a location recognizing unit adapted to recognize locations of the plurality of image blocks on the inputted image information;

a vectorization unit adapted to attempt to vectorize the first type of image blocks recognized by the type recognizing unit;

a superimposing unit adapted to superimpose specific image information on image blocks of the first type that the vectorization unit fails to vectorize, the specific image information enabling a user to visually discriminate image blocks of the first type that are successfully vectorized and image blocks of the first type that the vectorization unit has failed to vectorize; and

an output unit adapted to output image information including the first type of image blocks which are successfully vectorized and the first type of image blocks on which the specific image information is superimposed so that the vectorized image blocks and the superimposed image blocks are located on the outputted image information based on the locations recognized by the location recognizing unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the output unit transmits e-mail data, to which is attached data including the first type of image blocks which are vectorized and the first type of image blocks on which the specific image information is superimposed, to a designated address.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input unit inputs the image information obtained by optically reading a paper document.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit outputs the image information so that a color of one of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization by the vectorization unit has succeeded differs from a color of another of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization by the vectorization unit has failed.

5. An image processing method comprising:

using a computer to perform steps including:

an input step of inputting image information including a plurality of image blocks;

a storing step of storing the image information, including the plurality of image blocks inputted in the inputting step, into a memory;

a type recognizing step of recognizing a first type of image blocks to be vectorized or a second type of image blocks not to be vectorized, the first type of image blocks and the second type of image blocks being included in the plurality of image blocks;

a location recognizing step of recognizing locations of the plurality of image blocks on the inputted image information;

a vectorization step of attempting to vectorize the first type of image blocks recognized in the type recognizing step;

a superimposing step of superimposing specific image information on image blocks of the first type that have failed to vectorize in the vectorization step, the specific image information enabling a user to visually discriminate image blocks of the first type that are successfully vectorized and image blocks of the first type that have failed to vectorize in the vectorization step; and

an output step of outputting image information including the first type of image blocks which are successfully vectorized, and the first type of image blocks on which the specific image information is superimposed so that the vectorized image blocks and the superimposed image blocks are located on the outputted image information based on the locations recognized in the location recognizing step.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the output step outputs the image information so that a color of one of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization in the vectorization step has succeeded differs from a color of another of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization in the vectorization step has failed.

7. A program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium causing a computer to which image information is input to execute:

an input procedure of inputting image information including a plurality of image blocks;

a type recognizing procedure of recognizing a first type of image blocks to be vectorized and a second type of image blocks not to be vectorized, the first type of image blocks and the second type of image blocks being included in the plurality of image blocks;

a location recognizing procedure of recognizing locations of the plurality of image blocks on the inputted image information;

a vectorization procedure of attempting to vectorize the first type of image blocks recognized in the type recognizing procedure;

a superimposing procedure of superimposing specific image information on image blocks of the first type that the vectorization procedure fails to vectorize, the specific image information enabling a user to visually discriminate image blocks of the first type that are successfully vectorized and image blocks of the first type that the vectorization procedure has failed to vectorize; and

an output procedure of outputting image information including the first type of image blocks which are successfully vectorized and the first type of image blocks on which the specific image information is superimposed so that the vectorized image blocks and the superimposed image blocks are located on the outputted image information based on the locations recognized in said the location recognizing procedure.

8. The program according to claim 7 , wherein the output procedure outputs the image information so that a color of one of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization in the vectorization procedure has succeeded differs from a color of another of the first type of image blocks for which vectorization in the vectorization procedure has failed.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: NORTHERN PROTOCOL INC.
To: AWESTON HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 053093/0394 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2018
From: LOT NETWORK INC.
To: NORTHERN PROTOCOL INC.
Reel/Frame 047866/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: CANON INC.
To: LOT NETWORK INC.
Reel/Frame 047735/0833 →
SEC FORM 20-F EXCERPT ESTABLISHING NAME EQUIVALENCY Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: CANON INC.
Reel/Frame 048902/0727 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2005
From: SEKIGUCHI, KENZOU; MATSUKUBO, YUSHI; YAGUCHI, HIROYUKI; NISHIKAWA, EIICHI; TSUJI, HIROYUKI; KATO, SHINICHI; KITORA, MASAKAZU; YOSHIDA, HIROYOSHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 016755/0649 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-200807 · Jul 7, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060008114A1 · Jan 12, 2006